FNE VISEGRAD Country Focus: Film production in Poland

Despite the economic crisis, 2009 was a strong year for Polish film production. with 48 features completed.

While down from the 60 produced in 2008, this year's productions included big international projects and several internationally acclaimed titles. An additional 22 films are in the post production.

The biggest international coproduction was Janosik. A true story directed by Agnieszka Holland and Kasia Adamik, produced by Apple Film Production (www.applefilm.pl), In Film, Telewizja Polska S.A. (www.tvp.pl), Charlie's, Eurofilm Studio (www.eurofilm.hu), HBO Central Europe (www.hbo-centraleurope.com) with a budget of 23 m PLN. The most expensive domestic production was Popiełuszko. Freedom is Within Us directed by Rafał Wieczyński produced by Focus Producers (www.popieluszko.pl) with a 11.5 m PLN budget.

This year saw strong directing debuts, including Reverse, a 50's style drama from Borys Lankosz, the multi-plotted drama Zero directed by Paweł Borowski and produced by Opus Film (www.opusfilm.com), a social drama Mall Girls directed by Katarzyna Rosłaniec and produced by ,WFDiF ( www.wfdif.com.pl) as well as The Forest, a feature debut from animator Piotr Dumała produced by Eureka Media (www.eurekamedia.info) .

The most important domestic productions planned for 2010 include: Dream of a Butterfly (Sen motyla) directed by Jacek Bławut, produced by "Rabarbar" Film Studio (www.studiofilmowerabarbar.com) with a budget of 3.6 m PLN and 2.5 m funding from PISF; Dukedom(Księstwo) directed by Andrzej Barański, produced by Scorpion Art (www.skorpionart.pl) with a budget of 2.8 m PLN including 2 m from PISF; Rose of Masuria ( Róża z Mazur) directed by Wojciech Smarzowski, produced by WFDiF (www.wfdif.com.pl) with a budget of 5.3 m PLN with 2.6 m from PISF; Historia Roja Czyli w Ziemi Lepiej Słychać directed by Jerzy Zalewski, produced by Dr Watkins Studio Filmowe (www.watkins.pl) with a budget of 12 m PLN with 4 m PLN from PISF and the sequel to a cult Polish comedy Cruise 2 ( Rejs 2) directed by Marek Piwowski, produced by Anna Pupin "Boom!Group" (www.boom-group.pl) with a budget of 6 m PLN and half of this amount funded by PISF.